Significance of the Urogomphal Abnormality as a Criterion in the Test Method for Susceptibility to JH Mimics in Tribolium confusum12

Abstract

A test method was developed to measure susceptibility of the confused flour beetle to JH mimics in terms of EC₅₀, based on treating larvae and examining surviving adults. Persistence of the larval urogomphi is the principal adult abnormality used as a criterion of effect. This was found to be a valid indicator of the reproductive ability of the affected adults. This inhibition seems to be due to a combination of mechanical interference with the mating process and gonadal deficiencies which restrict fertilization.